Introduction

After frustration with my Harmony One (and confusion over configuration options / conflicts with previous knowledge from XBMC LIRC/MCE Remote configuration processes) I decided to create a walk-through for configuring Logitech Harmony remotes (specifically the Harmony One).

I truly hope that this guide will help others with their Harmony Remote configuration! The purpose of this guide is to provide a full and complete walkthrough for configuring your remote.

So... take a deep breath and relax, because this is a lot easier and much less intimidating than it seems!

Standard Configuration Steps

Configuring Harmony Remote

Open your Harmony Software. I am running Logitech Harmony Remote Software 7.7.0 (for Mac).


Proceed to the Devices tab to add your HTPC as a device on the remote.


Click on the "Add Device" button, which will bring you to this screen...


From here, you will select to add a Media Center PC (as shown below):


You then need to choose Microsoft as the manufacturer and enter MCE for the model.


Click "Next" and you will be able to review the device information for your HTPC.


Once you finalize the process of adding your HTPC, you will see it listed under the "Devices" tab.


Now you can customize the device settings. Click on "Settings" for your HTPC device.


You are now able to choose from the above actions. You can rename your HTPC device to something more meaningful, customize buttons, and edit remote timings. We will jump straight to editing/modifying the buttons. (option shown in above image - "Customize Buttons")

The default settings for MCE remote will work properly! Please ensure they match the following (you are able to edit these to your liking but will also be required to remember those changes and make the proper adjustments during later stages of the configuration guide).





Once you have finished configuring the "Standard Buttons" you can move on to "Additional Buttons".


Always remember to update your Harmony One remote after you make changes! You can also add the HTPC device to various Harmony activities. I do not plan to cover this process in the configuration guide unless specifically requested.

At this point, you are ready to move forward with configuring your HTPC for use with the Harmony/MCE remote.

Configuring XBMC (OpenELEC)

Once you have finished configuring the remote you can move on to settings on your HTPC. The settings I use are found under Settings --> System --> Input devices.

Under this section I have both "Remote control sends keyboard presses and Enable mouse DISABLED.



Advanced Configuration Steps

Custom Remote Functionality

Customization plays a big part in OpenELEC and XBMC. From skins, to add-ons, to playlists... and also remote configurations. This is arguably one of my favorite features, the ability to customize your buttons to perform the exact actions you desire!

This seems like a daunting task, but be assured that this is only intimidating because of loads of conflicting information (and information overload). Once you have a grasp on this process it is much simpler than you may realize.

In order to completely customize the button functionality on your Harmony One, you must personalize the mappings in the keymap.xml file. Under OpenELEC, this file can be found at the following path ~/.xbmc/userdata/keymaps (which is shared via SMB under OPENELEC > Userdata > keymaps).

You can edit/modify this file on your local machine with a text editor. This helps with XML syntax if you are uncomfortable with XML. You can also SSH into your HTPC and use 'nano' to modify the file. The end result is same!

I have included my keymap.xml file for reference. Feel free to use this to help with the customization of your keymap.xml See this pastebin link. Please note, this file is from the XBMC Github and includes my personal modifications and tweaks.

** Remember to save the keymap.xml file once you have finished your customizations! Also, reboot your HTPC so the settings will hold. **

Talk about keymap.xml (explain confusion with remote.xml and lircmap.xml)

Debugging Your Remote

*UNDER CONSTRUCTION*
Will include steps to debug your Harmony remote and identify IR commands

Advanced Logitech Harmony Configuration

*UNDER CONSTRUCTION*
Will include steps to fully customize the Harmony remote (including custom buttons/actions).


References/Important Links

XBMC Wiki: keymap.xml
XBMC Wiki: List of Built-in Functions
XBMC Wiki: List of Built-in Controls
Keymaps Included in XBMC (GitHub)

*RESERVED*

Overflow in case all content does not fit in first post!

Hi bmcclure937,

If you complete your guide it will no doubt be added to the guide section in the documentation, so please keep up the work

I've seen problems with people using 'MCE' as the device in the Harmony software - I've found it better to use 'Media Center Extender'. I think maybe the button mappings are better and maybe the timings too? I've been using it for ages so I can't recall what the problems actually were with MCE, but you might want to try the alternative...

openelec.tv/find-help/documentation/howt...r-harmony-one-remote

A start has been made already If your guide is completed, we'll merge them into eachother.

Thank you both for the input. I will go ahead and continue with my guide and we can decide how to proceed once it is complete.

I was unaware of the other guide (as it was never listed until this point). Strange that once I started my guide another one pops up... with the same basic layout as mine.

My guide has been started, but only sections without the *UNDER CONSTRUCTION* message are completed. I still have some work to do in order to finalize my guide.

(as per the "Media Center Extender" vs "MCE" as device model... I appreciate the suggestion but have not had issues to this point using "MCE")